Chandigarh: Punjab has launched ‘Pehchaan’, a digital public identification portal aimed at helping families identify unclaimed and unidentified bodies kept in government mortuaries across the state.
The portal will allow relatives living in India and abroad to search for and identify their missing family members who may have died in accidents or other circumstances. Once an online claim is submitted, the concerned police Investigating Officer will automatically receive the information for further action.
Digital Records Within 48 Hours
Under the initiative, detailed information about every unidentified or unclaimed deceased person will be uploaded to the portal within 48 hours of the postmortem at any government mortuary in Punjab.
The records will include facial photographs, permanent identification marks such as tattoos, birthmarks and deformities, along with detailed physical descriptions.
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Portal Covers 23 Districts
All 23 districts and 346 government hospitals in Punjab have been connected with the Pehchaan portal.
The platform will be publicly accessible and free of charge through the official websites of the state Health Department, making it easier for families to access identification records without having to visit multiple offices.
Helping Families Find Missing Relatives
According to available data, around 5,000 to 6,000 people die as unknown and unclaimed persons in Punjab each year.
Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Balbir Singh, who launched the portal, said the initiative is intended to provide families with a simpler digital route to identify their loved ones.
The system also creates a direct link between a claimant and the police investigation process, which can help move identification claims forward more efficiently.
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